London (CNN) -- There's a good party atmosphere on Notting Hill's streets for day one of the annual Carnival.
It's Kids' day, more of a family occasion before Monday, when around a million visitors are expected to attend.
There are 5,500 police watching over the carnival this Sunday, and another 1,000 will be brought in for the Monday.
Police say there have been no incidents so far and although their presence is obvious it is in no way oppressive.
The pavements throb from the huge sound systems passing through streets with steel bands, fabulous feathered costumes and a huge variety of food stalls selling everything from Caribbean street food to burgers.
London's Metropolitan Police have made 40 pre-carnival arrests, all part of Operation Razorback, launched at the beginning of August to thwart potential trouble-makers from disrupting the Carnival.
After the riots across London and other parts of the UK in early August there were calls from some quarters to stop this year's Carnival from going ahead.
In London alone there have already been 2,070 riot-related arrests.
Commander Steve Rodhouse, police spokesman for the Notting Hill Carnival, said earlier in the week that the Met has "intelligence that some gangs want to come to the Carnival and create trouble for us.'
The police have brought in 4,000 additional police to watch over other parts of London, in addition to the thousands of regular policemen on weekend duty. This is to allay fears that the Carnival might distract attention, leaving other parts of London open to possible criminality.
Police have activated section 60 and 60AA of the Criminal Justice and Public order Act across the whole of London, which allows them to stop and search individuals who they believe may cause violence or may be carrying a weapon.
Police are searching people arriving at the carnival for weapons.
The carnival will close each day at 7 p.m., earlier than usual, to prevent the possibility of violence which has tended to occur after dusk in previous years.
Many people here feel it is important to show that London is still open for business.
This is obviously the first real test of the police's ability to keep control over a large public event since the riots. It is crucial they can show themselves capable of keeping public order ahead of next year's Olympics.
It's Kids' day, more of a family occasion before Monday, when around a million visitors are expected to attend.
There are 5,500 police watching over the carnival this Sunday, and another 1,000 will be brought in for the Monday.
Police say there have been no incidents so far and although their presence is obvious it is in no way oppressive.
The pavements throb from the huge sound systems passing through streets with steel bands, fabulous feathered costumes and a huge variety of food stalls selling everything from Caribbean street food to burgers.
London's Metropolitan Police have made 40 pre-carnival arrests, all part of Operation Razorback, launched at the beginning of August to thwart potential trouble-makers from disrupting the Carnival.
After the riots across London and other parts of the UK in early August there were calls from some quarters to stop this year's Carnival from going ahead.
In London alone there have already been 2,070 riot-related arrests.
Commander Steve Rodhouse, police spokesman for the Notting Hill Carnival, said earlier in the week that the Met has "intelligence that some gangs want to come to the Carnival and create trouble for us.'
The police have brought in 4,000 additional police to watch over other parts of London, in addition to the thousands of regular policemen on weekend duty. This is to allay fears that the Carnival might distract attention, leaving other parts of London open to possible criminality.
Police have activated section 60 and 60AA of the Criminal Justice and Public order Act across the whole of London, which allows them to stop and search individuals who they believe may cause violence or may be carrying a weapon.
Police are searching people arriving at the carnival for weapons.
The carnival will close each day at 7 p.m., earlier than usual, to prevent the possibility of violence which has tended to occur after dusk in previous years.
Many people here feel it is important to show that London is still open for business.
This is obviously the first real test of the police's ability to keep control over a large public event since the riots. It is crucial they can show themselves capable of keeping public order ahead of next year's Olympics.
